Programme Specifications

N/A

Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences

August 2024

To develop the knowledge and skills required by those who may go on to pursue careers as managers of agricultural enterprises and businesses or become involved in the support agri-food industries, advisory work and research and development together with additional specialist knowledge of Business Management to enable them to work as subject specialists and engage with discourse at a detailed level.

An Agriculture with Business Management degree is an application-orientated programme requiring study across a broad spectrum of disciplines from applied natural sciences to social science, policy, economics and management. The degree is interdisciplinary, drawing on diverse disciplines but each with a clear and integrated set of learning outcomes. The study programme includes many elements that are subject-specific. Graduates with an Agriculture with Business Management degree will have a thorough understanding of crop and animal production methods and of the underpinning principles. In addition, they will have an increased understanding of organisations, their management, the economy and the business environment. In particular they will be able to:

• identify technological and economic problems encountered in current production systems and develop creativity when identifying solutions for their amelioration;

• demonstrate relevant knowledge and understanding of organisations, the business environment in which they operate and their management;

• evaluate new techniques and, where appropriate, apply them to commercial practice;

• identify, evaluate and apply relevant scientific and business principles to production systems;

• know how to organise and manage a business for profit;

• identify and evaluate public concerns over food production practices and

• evaluate the wider consequences of agricultural activities.

This degree will have built into its modular structure a number of options that allow for Welsh Medium teaching that meets the need of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

A1 demonstrate an understanding of the scientific factors influencing crop and livestock production

A2 recognise how production systems can be improved by manipulation and management and identify and address the ethical and environmental implications of production systems

A3 appraise and evaluate the policy and socioeconomic factors which form and influence agricultural systems

A4 describe and evaluate a wide range of economic and business management theory and techniques relevant to agriculture

A5 apply and evaluate a range of specific scientific, technological and business management processes

A6 apply the principles of a safe working environment and underline importance of health and safety as well as the protection and enhancement of the environment in a wide range of real-life situations

Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials and seminars; specialist external lectures; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; literature-based research; computer-assisted learning; visits to commercial businesses and organisations.

During their integrated year in industry students will embed themselves within a working environment, allowing for the development of a range of transferable and life skills commensurate with the above. Furthermore, students on this scheme will have the potential to utilise the knowledge and skills associated with other outcomes developed in years 1 and 2. This will be in part dependent on the nature of the organization their position is based with.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a research proposal; assessment based on real life problems.

Students on the integrated industrial year will be required to register for the module BRS0060. During the integrated Year in Industry, students will be required to submit an Introductory Report (worth 30% of the Industrial Year mark) on the organization that they are working for, its structure, aims and operation; and a Workplace investigation, to investigate a technical aspect of the work that they are doing (worth 40% of the Industrial Year mark). Finally, there will be an AU staff assessment of the final student self-evaluation and employer’s report. These will be marked in order to assess the student’s achievement of learning outcome 10.1 above as well as the other learning outcomes of their scheme.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

B1 apply the skills needed to contextualise academic study and enquiry

B2 select and use appropriate relevant information from a wide range of sources in order to gain an understanding of theory and practice

B3 undertake investigations to evaluate issues and changing situations

B4 apply knowledge and understanding to address and solve familiar and novel problems

B5 Demonstrate experience of working in a professional environment

Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials and seminars; specialist external lectures; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; literature-based research; computer-assisted learning; visits to commercial businesses and organisations

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, and oral presentations; assessment based on real life problems.

10.2.2 Professional practical skills / Discipline Specific Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

C1 recognise and use appropriate theories, concepts and principles from a range of disciplines

C2 plan, conduct, and report on investigations (including secondary data)

C3 collect, record, summarise and interpret diverse data and information using appropriate techniques

C4 plan and manage practical work in the field and laboratory with due regard to health and safety

C5 apply appropriate scientific, technical and business solutions to a range of agricultural situations and in a professional context

C6 understand the challenges of working in a professional environment

Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials and seminars; specialist external lectures; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; literature-based research; computer-assisted learning; visits to commercial businesses and organisations

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, and oral presentations; assessment based on real life problems.

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

D1 Research and data analysis skills

D2 Enhanced mathematical and computational skills

D3 Effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills

D4 A thorough grounding in information technology skills

D5 The ability to work independently

D6 Time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines

D7 The ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form

D8 Self-motivation and self-reliance

D9 Team-working, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement

D10 Professionalism and an understanding of commercial pressures